Positive thoughts on my life.

December 2012

12/31/2012

Mmmm. Don't ya love that word! Jubilee!! Say it! Kevin never made it to his 50th year but he talked about the Year of Jubilee often. It's been on my mind and I am claiming 2013 as my year of Jubilee. I googled it at thefreedictionary.com . It says it's a season of joyous celebration. In biblical terms, it's a year of rest during which slaves were to be set free, alianated properties restored and land left untilled. It's a good thing. 2013 is my 50th year. I can't believe that I am turning 50. It just seems weird to say. I don't feel 50. Yesterday at a family gathering I said something about turning 50 and my little nephew, Charlie, said, "Wait. You are going to be 50? I thought you might be turning 30." Then he blushed and I told him he was my new favorite person. I don't really care about the number. I think I am a better person than when I was 30. Actually, I have been telling people I am 50 for at least 5 years because I think it makes me look even more fantastic. I'm all like "Ya. I'm 50!!" and they are like "Dang! you look good!!" and I say, "Thank you!" and smile. It's been a fun thing to do. Ingenious is what it was. I am excited about the year of rest....and about the joyous celebration.....and about the freeing the captives. A year of rest does not mean laying in bed all day. I take it as a year of self acceptance. A year of being kind to my soul and loving who I am, of saying I GOT TO BE ME and then being OK with it. Resting. Not Fretting about whether I am good enough or pleasing someone..... learning and growing and being me..... setting my own captive free....my self. I read somewhere last week a thing that went something like this......you are not your body, you are a soul who has a body. It's true. I spend a lot of time focused on my body. Actually I am ok with it for the most part but I will continue to work on it because it is the vessel that carries me around and I want to keep it nice!.... Just like the house that I live in or the car that carries us around......both need cleaning and maintenance as does a body. The year of rest comes from within. Deep rest. I am who I am. My intentions are good. My conscious is clear. My attitude is commendable. My biggest struggle is deep within where I have a daily wrestling match. This year I will rest..... not fight with myself. Be me. It's deep. Isn't it?? I love it. So the year of jubilee includes rest from within, release of silly thought patterns and forgiving myself from past mistakes ( things my mind is a slave to) and joyous celebration. I like joyous celebration and the great thing is I can do it in my head any time and anywhere OR.....actually joyously celebrate in public at an actual celebration. This year will be a year of celebration and acceptance. No goals. No promises. No regrets. Just celebration of life and all it's goodness. The year of Jubilee. I love it. Happy New Year, Dear Friends. Think about this...a quote from Benjamin Franklin....

"Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors and every New Year be a better man."

Don't you love that? I do. I think it calls for a joyous celebration! As will all things in this coming year! Cheers!

12/29/2012

1. Buy one more book. Not gonna lie, it's a problem. I buy books and I do not read them. This new year, I'm gonna try to read ALL the books that I found worthy of purchasing. There are A LOT. This goal may actually take me 2 years.

2. Complain. I hate hearing other people complain and yet I complain a lot.....Nobody wants to hear it. I'm going to face the fact that I am truly blessed. Spoken words have power. I have nothing to complain about.

3. Eat sugar. I have an addiction. I shouldn't eat it. That's all on that subject.

4. Be bored. Emily tells me that's just silly to be bored and its true. I will not be bored in 2013. I have found that when I sit for long periods of time, my knees hurt and I get bored. So maybe incorporating more movement is the key here.....although I do try to stay up and active. I can't deny I have gotten a little bit lazy....... which is boring.

5. I not going to neglect the loving people I am surrounded with by spending the majority of my time looking at my smart phone. It sure is handy and I have all the answers to every question right at my finger tips but its a problem for me. I need to let it go at times.

6. So since I quit smoking cigarettes, I now get nicotine by puffing on an electronic "water vapor" cigarette. It's annoying. I'm gonna try to not use those in 2013. Maybe not on January 1.....but at some point. It's necessary.

7. Make piles. Lately, I've been leaving piles around the house. Piles of mail, bills, clothes, you name it.....and I probably have a pile of it laying somewhere around this house. It's annoying. I told myself that this house was gonna be different. It was and it can be again and it will be. "Say no to piles!!!" That's my new motto!!

8. A few things that I will by less of? Hair products. Skin care products. Boots. Movies. Paper.....mainly notebooks and only because I don't follow through with whatever i initially bought them for and end up throwing them away half used. Ive told you how much i love paper. I promise myself I will not buy a new planner in the coming year......or magazines.....or Um...... food.

9. I think I will try NOT to let other people's actions annoy me so much. I get my feelings hurt by what others do. I shouldn't let it bother me because its not about me. It's about them and their life. I can't live anybody's life but my own. I can't make anybody see life as I do or live as I do. Or expect anything from anyone. What I can do is be kind and love and treat others well and be the best person I can be and pray for others.....that's what I can do. My own actions are all that I have any control over. I should focus on that.

10. I will not constantly try to change myself. I will learn to accept myself and realize I am who I am and it's ok.....Because I'm pretty awesome! I like it that way. I got to be me!! Ok, I got to be me without the books and the piles and the blah blah blah. Self improvement is good, right?

I was thinking on my way to work today that my life is moving in the direction of my thoughts. That's how life goes. I think good happy thoughts and I am happy. I've always thought it would be awesome to have a job where I got paid for exercising and now I do! What a great thing getting paid for eating healthy and keeping on shape! I envisioned a life with a camper.....a vintage canned ham trailer and now I have one in my back yard.....And so on. Your mind is a powerful tool!! I love it. Don't you?? You can basically move your life in any direction with whatever you focus your thoughts on.....Maybe not instantly because its not magic but it is a great phenomenon. I may have to research that because I find it fascinating. It makes me happy!! Peace and love!!

12/27/2012

Funny! I went to work last night at a Weight Watchers meeting. It was fun! I loved getting dressed up and talking to adults....and wearing a name tag! And I love how excited Sam is that his mom has a REAL job. I don't know what I was thinking but upon walking into the house when returning home, I walked straight to the fridge and ate a huge slab of ham and then to the table and ate 3 pieces of fudge and 2 peanut clusters. Then I sat on the couch and fell asleep for 2 hours. I'm wide awake and it's 2:30 in the morning.....and I'm laughing! Ain't life great?? It is!! Enjoy your day!! Peace and love to you.....

12/26/2012

Well, here I sit the day after the Christmas celebrations...... Happy. I was just thinking about about gifts and this one has to be about the best gift ever.......

but this one.....the little elf...sure does make a close second! He's so cute!

I hope all your Christmas dreams came true. I am off to do my Wii Zumba game now.... to work off the tons off sweets and ham I ate yesterday. I start my new job at 5. I'm excited about that. Life is good. I hope you are feeling the same way! Peace and love to you.

12/23/2012

"OINK" ??? Gee. As I sit here thinking about what to say, that is the one word that comes to mind. I'll say it again. "OINK" I wish I had something a little more clever but I don't. I don't know what has happened for the past couple of weeks but I will say that I might have well have been living on a mountain made of chocolate. Have I told you how much I love chocolate? That's a silly question because I know I have and I do. I finally received a call from Weight Watchers about starting my job......December 26 at 5:00. I am not going to want to get on the scales that day. What have I done to myself? I guess this is the incentive to go for a walk today.....and tomorrow and Christmas Day and the next. Actually, the boys asked if we could go ice skating today. It does sound fun, doesn't it? I brought my little niece home from our family Christmas gathering last night. I wasn't feeling very festive at all. And my house was a mess.....And so she and Sam and I came home. Aaron and Drew were here so I cleaned awhile and they played a board game. Then they all had a sword fight with the wrapping paper, Sam sat on the porch in his underwear as part of a bet, we watched Max's musical on the TV and so on.....it was fun. Surrounding myself with happy children lightened my mood and it was nice. Now that the dishes are done and the laundry caught up, I can focus on the next couple days. I have A LOT to do. A LOT! Too much probably. Maybe when Grace gets up, I'll have her do my Dancing with the Stars exercise video with me to get the day started with some fun movement! I bought it over a year ago and have yet to break it open. I'm gonna ask her. Ok. For now, while everyone is sleeping, I'm gonna waddle up the stairs and do some wrapping. Here's wishing you love and peace and the heart of a child on this day! 3 good things!

12/21/2012

It's not really a good day unless you get out there and enjoy the snow a little bit. Since we couldn't slide down our driveway this year, we made snow angels in the front yard.

Then I came inside and gave myself a facial complete with a rejuvinating mud mask. It felt awesome.

I felt so good, I went back outside and admired Lola and my awesome truck. Those are two things I like to look at a lot. I drove to the gas station to fill up Ol' Blue with gas. She was completely empty. I was afraid I wouldn't make it to the gas station but I did. The roads were slick and I didn't like it. I thought maybe it would be a good idea to learn how to put the truck in 4 wheel drive soon.

after filling up with gas, I cleaned the steps on the front of the house, came in and made some Elf Yourself videos which made me laugh and laugh. I sent one to Asa and texted with him for awhile. It was nice. We had a sweet little visit. Then Max and I went out and played cards in Lola. We listened to some music and just basked in her gloriousness. I made plans for new curtains and artwork and just fun stuff. I LOVE that space....and so does Max. I was in such a good mood, I thought it would be a great idea to finish off the readi-whip and you know what?? It was.

man, I love that stuff, too. That's basically what we did on our snow day....enjoyed life...in the snow. It was delightfully sweet in every way! Enjoy yourself today!! Peace!

12/20/2012

It's a snow day!! I thought it was funny that when I went downstairs at 8 o'clock both the boys were up, dressed and watching TV. I wasn't expecting to see them until noon. Any other morning, I would be dragging Sam onto the floor and forcing him out the door but not today. It might be a little strange for them this morning because we no longer have that hill to sled on.....I wonder what kind of mischief they will get into today.

To celebrate the snow, I broke out the readi-whip for my coffee! I figured something out this year. I'm not real crazy about the various coffee cramers that are available. I tried to mix it up and try the holiday creamers....you know, pumpkin, peppermint, caramel....but I prefer plain old full fat vanilla. Coffee. Vanilla cramer. and readi-whip. That's what I like.

I guess today I will enjoy the Christmas lights. I love them.

I guess I never did share with you the new addition to the tree this year......Bells. I replaced the balls with 10 silver. 10 red bells. So stinking cute is what they are....and they were on clearance so it makes me love them even more.

today I am planning on filling at least half of this pink craft cabinet. Aaron carried it up the stairs for me and stuck it in the sunroom or whatever it is called. I probably could have done a better job of painting it but I ran out of paint and lost interest in the project. It's ok. I don't mind. It could have served it's purpose without any paint. I'm just excited to have it up here. I might be really slow but I do eventually get around to doing what I have planned! Oh and as I am looking at this picture? I am thinking this room needs some twinkle lights too. I think I will add some of those today also!

12/19/2012

It's a 1959 Winnebago canned ham camper! OMG. I can't stop smiling! Isn't it fun?? It's about the size of a small hot dog stand! I can barely stand up in it!

This is the view from the bed.....

and this is the bed! a custom made mattress with intersprings and everything.....even flannel sheets for winter camping and an electic blanket!!

and look.......

They even threw in some LOVE!! I envision a LOT of good adventures happening in her. When the lady dropped it off, she asked me, "what are you gonna name it?" I told her I didn't know. I never actually thought I would find one....but I did.......but you know?? Now that I think about it....I will name her....LOLA! WOOOOOHOOOOO!!

12/18/2012

Living with boys is a little awkward. They don't talk. They make messes and break things but talking isn't really a forte of boys. In November I made a thankful poster where we all wrote what we were thankful for. Anonymously, it was filled up and it was delightful!! It's still hanging by the door. This mont I decided to take it a step further and I made a "Let's Talk" jar. I mean, truly, what does one do with a hundred decorated mason jars leftover from a September wedding?? This one sits in the middle of the dining room table. I created a small little poster that asked a question....."in this house, what would you like to do more of?? Or less of??" Then I left small bits of paper for answers. It's kind of fun. I think the consensus is more vacations. More adventure. I, of course, requested more hugs!! I think everyone could use more hugs. They are just good! Ok! My big surprise is being delivered today! I can't wait to share it with you tomorrow!! I'm still giddy over here! You will be too when you see it!! Yay!! Peace and love and a beautiful day to YOU!!

12/17/2012

Today is Asa's birthday!! I am going to spend the day with him. I'm pretty excited! I will take some pictures to share with you tomorrow! Oh and guess what I am doing tomorrow morning?? Coffee with Mel! Yippee!! It's been a long time. Later in the week?? I have a big surprise!!I can hardly wait to share it with you! It's pretty stinking fantastic. I haven't been this excited.....well, since winning the box of kisses at the Christmas gathering this weekend in the guessing game! My life just keeps getting sweeter and sweeter....just the way I love it to be. I have been enjoying watching what the Christmas elves are doing at my brothers house. I'm gonna have to get one of those elves. I love their shenanigans! And just the word "shenanigans." Say it. It's a fun word. I hope he texts me a new pic today because I love getting them.....and the fact that he refers to them as the little bastards. That's just funny. I hope you are finding some enjoyment in this day. It's the best way to spend the day.....enjoying. I got to get dressed! And GO!! Peace and Love to you!!